In the era of "prestige TV," viewers often deride episodic "filler." However, The Rookie thrives on it. The high episode count allows for the "case-of-the-week" format, which serves two purposes. First, it provides the comfort of predictability—viewers know that by minute 42, the bad guy will be caught. Second, it allows for deep dives into the ensemble cast. With 100+ episodes, supporting characters like Sgt. Wade Grey, Lucy Chen, and Tim Bradford have been given standalone arcs that would be impossible in a tighter, serialized streaming model.

To address the immediate query: The Rookie premiered on ABC in October 2018. Season 1 consisted of 20 episodes, followed by Seasons 2 and 3 with 19 and 14 episodes respectively (the latter shortened due to the COVID-19 production shutdown). Season 4 returned to form with 22 episodes, while Season 5 matched that with 22. Season 6 was truncated to 10 episodes due to industry strikes, bringing the total to 107 episodes by the conclusion of Season 6. Season 7 is currently airing.

Interestingly, the varying episode counts reflect real-world turbulence. Season 3’s 14 episodes dealt with the in-universe fallout of the BLM movement and police reform, requiring a tighter, more political narrative. Season 6’s 10 episodes were a direct result of Hollywood labor disputes, forcing the writers to cut a planned 18-episode arc down to a high-octane, serialized hunt for a serial killer, Monica Stevens. Thus, the number of episodes tells the history of the industry itself.